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COMICS PAGE 7
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SPORTS PAGE 6
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CITY
CAMPUS
More stores to vacate Drag locations
UT invests in adding green technology to campus
By Matthew Adams @MatthewAdams60
As time continues to pass, so, too, do the businesses along Guadalupe Street. Noodles and Company decided to close locations in Texas, ATX Books will be permanently closing and Melissa’s Custom Gifts will be moving to a new location off Guadalupe Street. According to The Denver Post, Noodles and Company announced on Nov. 5 it would be closing 16 of its locations across the country, five of
which are in Austin. This decision comes after the company’s third-quarter results were released Nov. 5. The company fell short of Wall Street expectations, posting a $9.8 million loss in revenue which led to a 10 percent drop in the company’s stock. “Occasionally, trade areas shift, populations contract or we may miss the mark gaining insight to adjust our future growth model,” the company said in an email to The Denver Post. “The decision to close a restaurant is never easy
and is only made after careful consideration of the longterm financial performance of a particular location.” Sylvia Gomez, assistant manager of The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, said she did not know it was happening until corporate came to tell the workers the restaurant would be closing. Gomez said corporate workers came over to The Coffee Bean and asked her to translate for the Spanish-speaking workers
DRAG page 2
By Ashley Tsao @tsaoashley
Zoe Fu | Daily Texan Staff
Five Noodles and Company locations closed their doors in Austin, the Guadalupe Street location included.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
NASA: Who wants to be an astronaut? By Rachel Freeman @rachel_frmn
Last week, NASA announced they will accept applications for the next class of astronaut candidates from Dec. 14 through mid-February. NASA said they require more astronauts to staff missions to space stations — and eventually Mars. Engineering professor Wallace Fowler shed some light on the NASA application process from his experiences working in aerospace — he even once applied to join NASA himself. “People generally stay at NASA for 10 to 15 years before moving to a company, so they need a new fresh group of astronauts to add to the core group,” Fowler said. “A lot of people who have graduated from UT are qualified, but it’s hard.
NASA page 2
Illustration by Connor Murphy | Daily Texan Staff
UT students can now recharge their phones and themselves under a solar-powered umbrella on campus. UT is one of 70 colleges investing in a green outdoor power solution that allows students to charge their mobile devices via outdoor solarpowered umbrellas. The umbrellas, made by ZON, include solar panels on top of the umbrella that transfer energy to a lithium ion battery. Three USB ports are located at the base of each umbrella. Currently, the University has purchased one ZON Powersol umbrella that was installed in February 2015. According to a ZON representative, each Powersol costs between $1,600–$2,700. “Mobile devices are not merely phones,” Diana Ziskin, account executive at Trent & Company, the public relations firm for ZON, said. “They contain our entire life, alarm clock, calendar, email, cameras and more. With more mobile devices on earth than human beings and statistics looming large about how much energy is consumed to charge up these devices, ZON feels its goals are both attainable and important for the future.” Sarah Akin, co-founder of ZON Powersols, conceptualized the technology after being unable to find an outdoor mobile charging station on multiple occasions, according to Ziskin. This technology was first
STATIONS page 3
CAMPUS
ALUMNI
Wimberley floods forum examines preparedness
Alumnus explores paranormal activity
By Selah Maya Zighelboim
Inside an old Victorian house in Rio Grande City, UT alumnus Alejandro Dominguez stands in the dark, capturing the silence with a recording device. When he plays it back, he hears a little girl’s voice saying “Mama” amid the white noise. Dominguez, a paranormal investigator, travels to haunted sites around the country with a camera and sound equipment in hopes of capturing the supernatural. He uploads his findings to his YouTube series, “Dead Explorer,” which has amassed 26,000 subscribers since its creation five years ago. “[I love] traveling and visiting historic sites and spending time alone in them,” Dominguez said. “People get to go inside some of the places I’ve investigated during the day, [but] I get to go in after hours and have the whole place to myself. I’m like a kid in a candy store.” Unlike ghost hunters on television, Dominguez said his YouTube channel is gimmickfree. He doesn’t have to aim
@SelahMaya
Eleven people died and 350 houses were damaged or destroyed as a result of severe flooding in Wimberley, Texas in May. On Monday afternoon, the Environmental Science Institute hosted a seminar on how the small city will improve its ability to respond to these kinds of floods in the future. Wimberley city administrator Don Ferguson, civil engineering professor David Maidment, Harry Evans, former Austin Fire Department chief of staff, and social work professor Calvin Streeter each presented on aspects of emergency preparedness and disaster response. According to Ferguson, who presented first, 195,000 acre-feet of water passed through Wimberley during the Memorial Day weekend — enough to flood the AT&T Stadium in
Arlington 82 times. He said the Blanco River rose from five feet to 41 feet. “The force of water, kicking in doors that a SWAT team could never kick in, shattering windows, taking counters out — it’s an amazing scene,” Ferguson said. Ferguson stressed the importance of accurate advanced warnings. During the floods, Wimberley had used an old system of relying on people living farther upstream to call and report changing weather conditions. Ferguson said there was a reverse 9-1-1 call service to send information to residents but said he wants to add sirens to that as well as figuring out how to include social media. Maidment spoke about a better flood forecasting system he is developing, which would be 400 times more spatially dense than the previous system and updated hourly.
FLOODS page 3
By Katie Walsh
Paranormal investigator and UT alumnus Alejandro Dominguez loves exploring historical sites. He runs the YouTube channel “Dead Explorer,” which details his journeys into the supernatural.
@katiehwalsh_atx
Thalia Juarez Daily Texan Staff
for high ratings that television shows depend on, which he said gives him the freedom to be honest in his work. “On most investigations, about 90 percent of the time, [paranormal] things don’t happen,” Dominguez said. “When [paranormal] moments do happen, that’s awesome, but it’s not like television, where every single time you go somewhere that’s supposedly haunted, ghosts show up.” Dominguez has recorded voices, seen unexplained lights and watched fellow ghost
hunters appear to be choked and scratched by unexplainable forces, but he said he’s never seen what people think of as a typical ghost. Before investigating on-site, Dominguez does research to give historical context to any paranormal activity he might experience. When he recorded the girl’s voice in Rio Grande City, he attributed it to the little girl who died in a well there years ago. Then when he saw lantern-esque lights in Anson, Texas, he traced them back to a legend of a woman who searched for her lost sons with
NEWS
OPINION
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Professor discusses violence in Mexico. PAGE 3
APD must stop jailing those who can’t pay fines. PAGE 4
Duke Thomas is growing into leadership role. PAGE 6
UT alumnus creates animallike machines on bikes. PAGE 8
Law professor speaks about animal cruelty. PAGE 3
Pandering to young voters won’t win them over. PAGE 4
Former Longhorn is making name for herself. PAGE 6
People on campus share stories behind ink. PAGE 8
Check out our video recap of a student start-up event held this weekend at dailytexanonline.com
a lantern in a snow blizzard. Dominguez said he does not typically jump to the conclusion that ghosts caused any unexplained event. He said he believes that being skeptical is a good thing because it allows people to distinguish between the paranormal and something that has a logical explanation. “I’m not one of those who say ‘Oh, that fell over — it must be a ghost,’” Dominguez said. “You can’t really say that legitimately. I try to be rational.”
YOUTUBE page 2 REASON TO PARTY
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Tuesday, November 10, 2015
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NASA
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TOMORROW’S WEATHER
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“There would’ve been a board meeting.”
The chances are about one in 1,000 to be selected even if you have qualifications.” To apply for the few open positions, applicants must have a bachelor’s degree, three years of professional experience, at least 1,000 hours of flight experience, be able to pass a NASA space flight physical and be an American citizen. Aerospace engineering
RECYCLE
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High
Qiling Wang | Daily Texan Staff
Computer science junior Scott Miles studies on the top of the Littlefield Fountain on the South Mall on Monday afternoon.
sophomore Alto Ono, an international student from Japan who does not hold American citizenship, said he is disappointed he will not be able to apply for this incoming class or any other for the foreseeable future. “It sucks that there is a wall like that,” Ono said. “But I understand that it’s a national security issue, and [there are] ways around that wall, like working with the Japanese space agency instead, since they work closely with NASA.
Hopefully I can gain citizenship, but we will see.” Brian Kelly, director of flight operations at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, said he was happy to hear the news that NASA would be accepting applications and called this an “exciting time.” “NASA has taken the next step in the evolution of our nation’s human spaceflight program,” Kelly said. “Our U.S. astronauts will be at the forefront of these new and challenging space flight missions. We en-
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courage all qualified applicants to learn more about the opportunities for astronauts at NASA and apply to join our flight operations team.” The few newly accepted astronauts will have the possibility of working — and even fly-
ing in — any of four different U.S. vessels during their careers: the International Space Station, two commercial crew spacecraft currently in development by U.S. companies or NASA’s Orion deep-space exploration vehicle.
DRAG
across from Cain and Abel’s. Ken Jones, owner of both ATX Books and Melissa’s, said he has been phasing out of the book business for a while because of the negative connotation students have with textbooks. “Students feel ripped off, professors don’t always assign work from the textbook and publishers are always changing the book,” Jones said. Jones said it would be easier to target customers from sororities and to encourage high school girls to visit Meslissa’s at the new location on 24th Street. While rent was high and the homeless population a serious concern, the location had many other issues, Jones said. “Where we are right now, there is a lack of parking for our customers,” Jones said. “Because of this location, when people think of UT, they think of downtown, and when they think of downtown, people think it is crowded.”
continues from page 1 of Noodles and Company that the restaurant would be closed, and they would receive their final paychecks plus an extra two weeks of pay. “It was definitely a sad thing happening and just a lot of confusion in that moment,” Gomez said. “Two corporate women let our manager know, but our landlord did not know it was happening.” Gomez said this was the busiest location for Noodles and Company in Austin, but there was constant turnover in the manager position. Since The Coffee Bean has shared a restroom with Noodles and Company since it opened, Gomez said they are actively trying to secure access to the restroom for customers of The Coffee Bean. Farther down the Drag, ATX Books will be closing at the end of the semester, and Melissa’s Custom Gifts will be relocating to 24th Street
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Sommer Carter Jones, a fellow paranormal investigator, has starred in several episodes of “Dead Explorers.” She said the level of thought Dominguez puts into his videos by adding commentary, history and graphics, combined with his commitment to not faking anything, make his videos different from other online paranormal investigation videos. “He presents it for what it is,” Jones said. “He’s really honest. [The videos] are interesting
Le of
and exciting even if nothing happens.” Dominguez also developed a love for filmmaking over the years and began creating YouTube videos that eventually turned into “Dead Explorer.” He hopes his videos show viewers that anyone can become a paranormal investigator. “You don’t need the fancy equipment you see on television to be a paranormal investigator,” Dominguez said. “If you want to find out if there is a ghost, go out with your eyes and ears and try to find out for yourself if there is.”
W&N 3
NEWS
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Tuesday, November 10, 2015
CAMPUS
Professor criticizes factory farm-protecting laws By Claire Allbright @claireallbright
Ag-gag laws are “clearly an impediment to anyone trying to investigate” factory farming facilities, according to Amon Burton, an adjunct professor of law. Burton spoke on ag-gag laws, which prohibit the filming of animal abuse at factory farms, at a lecture hosted by the American Constitution Society and Student Animal Legal Defense Fund at the School of Law. Anne Swift, a law student and member of the American Constitution Society, said the bills are interesting for law students because they address issues surrounding free speech, animal rights and worker’s rights. “The American Constitution Society is a national organization that unites progressive attorneys, professors, law students and any legal professional around pursuing progressive changes in
the law,” Swift said. “From our prospective, this is an interesting issue because of the First Amendment and Fourteenth Amendment implications.” Camila Cossio, law student and Co-President of the Student Animal Legal Defense Fund at the School of Law, said consumers should be aware of the practices of factory farms because 99 percent of animals in the US are raised in factories. “It’s really important for consumers to understand how prevalent these operations are and how abusive they are to animals, workers and the environment,” Cossio said. Burton said the abuse goes beyond beating the animals when factory farms try to maximize production by subjecting animals to inhumane living conditions and using genetic engineering. “It affects the food supply,” Burton said. “Part of the problem is that the public has no idea of what’s going on with the food supply. The food supply is underground, and that’s what
Amon Burton, adjunct professor of law, talked about ag-gag laws, which prohibit the filming of animal abuse at factory farms, at a lecture held Monday afternoon.
Qiling Wang Daily Texan Staff
[ag-gag bills are] doing.” Most citizens agree that animal abuse in factory farming is bad, Swift said, but most people do not think about that sort of thing when they consume meat products.
“I think that the meat-interested citizen should have problems with that, both as a matter of what liberties we have and as something that really affects our health and the health of our country, so we should do
FLOODS
STATIONS
Evans discussed a template for emergency response maps he is developing, which will include a map for pre-planned responses and a map of realtime flood information updated hourly. He said the maps would be for the use of a city administrator in the next flood disaster, but he said he thinks it will Zoe Fu | Daily Texan Staff be accessible to community Wimberley city administrator Don Ferguson speaks about the residents as well one day. Memorial Day floods at Bass Hall on Monday afternoon. “Whenever I talk to people, they say, ‘Can I authority figures. ing graduate student who have this now?’” Evans “When we think about worked on creating the said. “We have to be sure decisions, when we pro- emergency response maps it’s completely accurate be- cess information about for Maidment’s and Evcause if it’s not, people will hazard warning and disas- ans’ presentations, said lose confidence.” ter response, we think of she found Streeter’s speech In the last presentation, it as a personal decision,” on how people react in an Streeter spoke about di- Streeter said. “But there’s emergency situation insaster response from a so- pretty good evidence that teresting, and she said she cial sciences perspective. there’s an interpersonal thought it would help in According to Streeter, the aspect to that as well. Our her work designing emertwo most influential fac- social networks have a gency response maps. tors in a person’s disaster powerful impact on our “It helps me put myself response are their previous decision making.” in the shoes of people in a experience with emergenCassandra Fagan, a wa- community so I can create a cies and their respect for ter resources engineer- better product,” Fagan said.
introduced to UT when Joe Franklin, ZON Powersol’s higher education account executive, reached out to the University during the company’s launch in 2014, Ziskin said. According to history sophomore Sydney Rodriguez, UT should invest in more green energy projects, such as ZON Powersols. “Our planet is obviously in trouble, and we need to do
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CAMPUS
Lecturer discusses intricacy of Mexico’s drug problems By Kahlil Said @kahlelo
The Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies Speaker Series presented a talk on the outbreak and escalation of large-scale criminal violence in Mexico that has occurred during the country’s transition from authoritarian rule to a democracy. Guest speaker Guillermo Trejo, associate professor at Notre Dame’s Kellogg Institute, spoke about the spread of the electoral competition and how it has affected the evolution of criminal violence. Trejo said one problem with the criminal violence in Mexico is caused by the lack of state capacity to deal with the criminals. “The capacity to control or prosecute these criminals is there or at least should be there,” Trejo said. “The problem is there are other motivations that restrain this capacity.” Guillermo Trejo, associate professor at Notre Dame’s Kellogg Institute, speaks at the Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies Speaker Series.
Joshua Guerra Daily Texan Staff
Trejo said the sources for the evolution of criminal violence in Mexico make it hard to combat. “Social, political and economic issues are all contributory factors to the evolution of criminal violence,” Trejo said. “Each of these different issues needs to be addressed.” Undeclared sophomore Andres Garza said it seemed interesting that Trejo was able to point out when the most violence occurs. “Trejo said that violence was always at its worst when political parties would turn over,” Garza said. “It’s a bit odd to see violence explode when new politicians and parties got in office.” Garza said Trejo’s analysis of the growing issue of criminal violence in Mexico gave new perspectives. “The talk shed light onto different social and political factors and issues related to the problem with violence in
Mexico,” Garza said. Garza said he felt Trejo had a semi-pessimistic overview on the issue and what is to come in the future. “Trejo didn’t seem to have any real hope or belief that this criminal violence would come to an end anytime soon,” Garza said. Plan II junior Adriana Ortiz said Trejo made a very good point about Mexico’s judicial system and legislature. “As long as Mexico has a weak judicial system and legislature, the country will continue to be a victim of organized crime,” Ortiz said. According to Ortiz, as a Mexican-American student, these talks are helpful in understanding the issue more deeply than what the media reports. “Students that attend these talks will be more aware of the important factors and research needed to implement a reform in Mexico,” Ortiz said.
what we can to protect people’s access to that information,” Swift said. Burton said retailers such as Tyson, Walmart, Chick-fil-A and Costco have the power to prevent ag-gag laws and allow
everything we can to ensure future generations can stay on this planet without any hazards,” Rodriguez said. “It’s also going to be more resourceful because if we have more of these Powersols, not as many people are going to be fighting over the wall plugs at the SAC or in the Union.” Powersols would allow UT students enrolled in online courses to go outside while staying connected to their online coursework, psychology freshman Caitlyn Jones said. “It’s a good way to make
for investigative journalism work in the industry. “The only effect we’ve seen is the [bills that have been] released impact the retailers,” Burton said. “[Retailers] have canceled various kinds of suppliers.”
sure we are outside, but we can still stay connected,” Jones said. “I think UT should invest in even more green solutions on campus.” Powersols would be a good investment not only for UT, but the City of Austin, Rodriguez said. “We already have so many green energy ideas like the no plastic bag rule in supermarkets,” Rodriguez said. “Investing in more green energy solutions is just going to put UT and Austin on the map even more.”
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4 OPINION
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CLAIRE SMITH, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF | @TexanEditorial Tuesday, November 10, 2015
COLUMN
APD should not jail those who cannot pay fines By Maria Kroeger Daily Texan Columnist @TexanEditorial
The judicial system is designed to keep citizens safe from themselves and each other. Austin citizens are being jailed for indigency — or inability to pay — for violating Class C misdemeanors. A Class C violation could be jaywalking, rolling a stop sign or not buckling your seatbelt. These are important to regulate, but it’s unjust to jail people who can’t afford to pay. Incarcerating an indigent citizen without representation is a misinterpretation of laws meant to secure the protection and well-being of the people. The Texas Fair Defense Project, Susman Godfrey LLP and the University of Texas Civil Rights Clinic have filed Gonzales et al. v. The City of Austin, suing the city for denying Valerie Gonzales and Maria Salazar the rights afforded to them by the Sixth and 14th Amendments. Rebecca Bernhardt, executive director of the Texas Fair Defense Project, said tickets worth about $100 can amount to thousands in debt because of fines. Citizens are expected to repay that debt by going to jail, with each day being worth $100. While in jail, citizens often lose their jobs and homes. “Here’s how the system works: It’s not just
the fine,” Bernhardt said. “Most of the Class C tickets have lower fines. What happens is all these extra fees get added on when you can’t or don’t pay.” Bernhardt said these people are mostly single, working parents just trying to survive. Granted, there are payment plans for those who can’t pay upfront. But payment plans may be an unfeasible option for those who live paycheck to paycheck. The judge may then determine that because the defendant had many opportunities to pay and failed, they should be incarcerated. Perhaps the most heinous injustice is that these indigent people are being jailed without proper representation. According to the Sixth and 14th Amendments, citizens have the right to an attorney to defend them in court. Citizens who cannot even afford a $500 fee cannot afford to hire a lawyer. Data shows that when representation is present, often pro bono, the citizens are more likely not to go to jail. When many lawyer-less citizens do go to jail, they lose their families, jobs and homes. Plaintiff Gonzalez, mother to five disabled children, was incarcerated for failure to pay speeding tickets and a number of minor traffic offenses. After her arrest, Gonzalez was sentenced to 45 days of jail to compensate for the $4,500 she owes the city. The justice system is unbalanced because it caters to a small demographic of people
POINT
Zoe Fu | Daily Texan Staff The Austin Police Department Headquarters is located at 715 E 8th Street.
who are able to pay. Many say those who can’t afford tickets shouldn’t break the law. However, this elitist rhetoric acts as though no one has ever rolled a stop sign, jaywalked or accidentally forgot to put on their seatbelt. The problem is that the City of Austin does not do enough for those who cannot afford
their outrageous fines and fees. It is unconstitutional to jail people for being poor and even more unconstitutional for doing so without a lawyer present. Let’s support the institutions battling this discriminatory injustice. Kroeger is a human relations senior from Corpus Christi.
COUNTERPOINT
UT should develop energy Exploring biofuel uses can efficiency beyond biofuels help slow climate change By Benroy Chan
Daily Texan Columnist @BenroyChan
Next year, UT researchers will receive $15 million in grants to study switchgrass, a plant species used to produce ethanol. The researchers aim to study factors surrounding the plant’s growth rates, but because of negative impacts on air quality, fertilizer use and food security, these funds would be better spent researching different energy sources. In 2007, President George W. Bush signed the Energy Independence and Security Act with the hopes of achieving energy independence and cleaner air quality. It subsidized corn-based biofuels to help achieve these goals, but unintended consequences surfaced. Early production of supposedly clean ethanol has failed to meet reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and has subsequently raised the emissions of other pollutants such as particulate matter, sulfur dioxide and others, according to a 2015 study by the University of Tennessee. To accurately measure all aspects of biofuel impacts, scientists need to take into account both the resources used in corn production and changes in land use. Natural gas and coal are used in the ethanol manufacturing processes, and petroleum powers machines that transport and cultivate these crops. All of these fuels release air pollutants. Furthermore, farmers often clear land with existing plant life for biofuel crops that uptake less carbon. If these factors are accounted for, the benefits of ethanol become much less promising. In addition, biofuel crops require intensive amounts of nitrogen-based fertilizer. When these fertilizers drift into bodies of water, dead zones occur as a result of hypoxia, a reduction in dissolved oxygen levels caused by excessive algal blooms. As a result, many
aquatic organisms such as fish, mussels and crabs die and disrupt ecosystems. Finally, biofuel crops have contributed to food price increases. According to Environmental Health Perspectives, the diversion of food crops for biofuels contributed to an 83 percent increase in global food price in 2008. While this is a complicated issue that cannot solely be attributed to biofuel production, their effect shouldn’t be dismissed. Still, one cannot analyze biofuel crops apples to apples. UT researchers are analyzing switchgrass, while the effects listed above focus on corn-based ethanol. Switchgrass supporters argue that they use less water and fertilizer for production compared to corn, but the amount of research needed to mitigate unwanted emissions without compromising other environmental aspects is tremendous. Although solar, electric and even air-powered cars are still far off from widespread use, scientists should study these lower-drawback alternatives instead. Instead of pouring more money into the sunk cost of biofuels, researchers should work on developing other renewable fuel that have fewer negat i v e i m pacts. Chan is a journali sm freshman from Sugar Land. Illustration by Joanna Levine | Daily Texan Staff
By Mohammad Syed Daily Texan Columnist @mohammadasyed
Energy usage is on the rise. According the U.S. Energy Information Administration, world energy consumption is said to increase by 56 percent by 2040. As our usage of energy increases, however, our traditional means of getting energy are actually depleting. As Ecotricity puts it, “Clearly fossil fuel reserves are finite.” They estimate that by 2088 the world will be depleted of all fossil fuels. Moreover, the constant usage of fossil fuels drastically increases carbon emissions, which in turn leads to climate change. An alternative solution exists in the form of a biofuel. Biofuels are derived f r o m living matt e r a n d a r e most comm o n l y produced from plants. We can grow these plants in mass amounts and create ethanol through the process of fermentation, which can be used as fuel. They help serve as a means of sus-
taining energy and reducing the effects of global warming. However, some feel that biofuels are counterproductive, purely because they require mass plant growth through means of fertilizers. Many studies indicate that groundwater becomes contaminated by fertilizer use. But with GMO production increasing, there actually is the possibility for a decrease in fertilizer usage. Through GMOs, we’re still able to churn out a mass amount of plants for fuel without having to worry about contaminating our water. Critics also introduce the idea that biofuels actually lead to water overuse because we would need a greater crop yield. But again, GMOs solve this problem. Another benefit to biofuels is the type of plant we use to create the biofuel. Research indicates that switchgrass has great potential because of its widespread prevalence and how easily it grows. The biggest benefit of biofuels is the very fact that they limit fossil fuel consumption. In a world with biofuels, we would have fewer greenhouse gases, less reliance on nonrenewable energy, and greater energy independence. While there may be some minute harms to using biofuels, the harms of not doing so outweigh those on a much greater scale. It’s almost ridiculous to introduce the notion that biofuels are counterproductive, especially when considering the fact that without biofuels, climate change is ever more imminent. Biofuels are scientifically proven to effectively reduce carbon emissions, so it only makes sense to promote their development. Syed is a biochemistry freshman from Houston.
COLUMN
Pandering to millenial audiences will not win youth vote By Cuillin Chastain-Howley Daily Texan Columnist @notcuillin
With each election season comes a mad dash by candidates to appeal to as many groups as possible, especially the youth. So far, we have seen different approaches to this strategy. Hillary Clinton infamously went on The Ellen Show to do the whip and nae nae. Jeb Bush has had a series of tech-focused attempts at millennial outreach, such as the awkward video short where he dons a hoodie in 105-degree Las Vegas, or his constant mentions of the Apple Watch. These strategies have not been successful. Jeb is down to 4% in the polls, and while Hillary is still in the lead for the Democratic nomination, many young voters have flocked to Bernie Sanders, who was considered unelectable when
When a politician panders to a demographic as blatantly as Clinton did, the effort is obvious and doesn’t reflect integrity. he announced. This shows that a lot of the current attempts at millennial “outreach” are missing the mark completely. Take Hillary Clinton’s twitter faux pas: On Aug. 12, the Clinton campaign tweeted asking how student loans made students feel in “3 emojis or less”. This tweet was met with major backlash. This reaction shows the most important thing about communicating with young people: In order to command their full attention,
LEGALESE | Opinions expressed in The Daily Texan are those of the editor, the Editorial Board or the writer of the article. They are not necessarily those of the UT administration, the Board of Regents or the Texas Student Media Board of Operating Trustees.
you must treat them as equals. Hillary’s plan to eliminate student debt could positively affect the lives of many young people, but using emojis to get that point across reeks of belittlement and condescension. Madison Yandell, government junior and College Republicans of Texas President, said candidates pandering to the youth is disrespectful. “Personally, I find it insulting when candidates think this type of outreach is going to win my vote, and I think many of my peers would agree,” Yandell said. When a politician panders to a demographic as blatantly as Clinton did, the effort is obvious and doesn’t reflect integrity. When a politician will do anything to get votes, their reliability as a leader is questionable. Alternatively, Bernie Sanders has produced a great deal of excitement among
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millennials. While Sanders is active on Twitter and has a large Reddit following, many of his supporters do much of his promotional work for him. The main reason for this support is that Sanders’ policies are relevant to young people. His plans to make public college free and end the War on Drugs resonate strongly. Bernie’s priority is promoting these policies, not tweeting memes or emojis. A major factor in the success of millennial outreach is whether it is organic or manufactured. If a candidate believes in their policies passionately, voters will take notice, and take it upon themselves to promote these policies. Candidates need to speak to millennials as their equals, and need to stop playing the part of the cool uncle. Chastain-Howley is an undeclared sophomore from Dallas.
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CLASS 5
LIFE&ARTS
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Tuesday, November 10, 2015
ALBUM REVIEW | ‘DELIRIUM’
Goulding’s artistic style devolves in new album By Chris Duncan @chr_dunc
Ellie Goulding’s third album, Delirium, is a clear departure from her previous indie style — and an unwelcome one at that. The electronic pop star found her niche with her 2012 record, Halcyon, a confident step forward for the star’s developing artistic identity. Goulding seemed indecisive about her musical identity but approached each song with confidence, honing both her contemporary soul style and new blues influence. Goulding’s next musical move was unclear, but her general style felt secure. However, Goulding’s new LP, Delirium, released Friday, takes an unexpected turn, attempting to forge hit after hit with tired pop formulas and poor execution. Some of the most famous names in pop music riddle the liner notes of Delirium, including Swedish writers Max Martin and Ilya Salmanzadeh, who helped write hits for everyone from the Backstreet Boys to Britney Spears. Although their contributions aren’t necessarily an issue, Goulding’s reliance on other producers and songwriters essentially removes her soulful personality from each song. Martin and others set an obviously mediocre standard with the entire project rarely deviating for an actual humanized moment.
DELIRIUM Genre: Pop Tracks: 16 Rating:
After an intriguing album introduction, Delirium quickly dives into the typical punchy beats and auto-tune commonly associated with modern pop music. There’s no distinguishing characteristic in this album that could define it as an Ellie Goulding record — these songs could have been sung by anyone from Beyoncé to Katy Perry. The worst parts of each song are the horribly generic lyrics. At the beginning of Delirium’s fourth track, “Keep on Dancin’,” Goulding sings, “People like to talk/because they don’t know what to say,/Running from the truth because the truth’s too much to take” and continues to sing about how much she drinks and stays in the moment. Not only are these lines extremely broad, but Goulding sings them with uncertainty and a lack of genuine emotion. Goulding took another misstep by not only releasing a standard album but also a redundant deluxe version. While the standard version already runs too long at slightly over an hour,
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Courtesy of Film Magic f
Goulding’s Delirium suffers from a lack of personality and bombs because of its repetitive production and boring lyrics.
Goulding’s new LP, Delirium, released Friday, takes an unexpected turn, attempting to forge hit after hit with tired pop formulas and poor execution. the 23-track deluxe version proves she chose quantity over quality. The length of this album is, in a way, symbolic of its overall merit — it’s more of an unrelated collection of prescribed synths and generic lyrics than a cohesive piece of music with
♲
significant influences. Whatever direction Goulding was heading before this album, she’s made an aboutface and is running toward fake pop stardom. Goulding seems to be becoming someone she truly isn’t, resulting in an album that lacks any defining characteristics.
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JORI EPSTEIN, SPORTS EDITOR | @texansports Tuesday, November 10, 2015
FOOTBALL
Thomas grows into leadership role
SIDELINE NFL BEARS
By Ezra Siegel @SiegelEzra
Senior cornerback Duke Thomas sported a new look during Saturday’s win over Kansas. Instead of wearing his normal No. 21, he donned No. 28 to pay homage to former Longhorn safety Freddie Steinmark, who the University honored throughout the game. Head coach Charlie Strong said he asked Thomas to wear the number because of his level of play this season. “It meant a lot,” Thomas said. “That’s a big stage putting on that number. It meant a lot. I knew that every play out there, I wasn’t just playing for myself. It was definitely big.” Strong said Thomas is one of the team’s most consistent players. Through nine games, he ranks second on the team in pass breakups (four) and tackles (48). He’s also pass rushed effectively, blitzing from the nickel spot. Thomas’ coaches and teammates rave about his leadership. Strong emphasized the cornerback’s emergence as a mentor for the team’s freshmen — especially cornerbacks Holton Hill, Davante Davis and Kris Boyd. As those freshmen continue to see more playing time, each relies on Thomas to put them in the right position. “Duke’s been great for the younger players, and they just all gravitate to him,” Strong said. “You come out
CHARGERS
NBA MAGIC
PACERS
BULLS
76ERS
TOP TWEET Jordan Hicks @JordanHicks Joshua Guerra | Daily Texan file photo
Senior cornerback Duke Thomas (21) has been a consistent piece of the Longhorns defense, tallying four pass breakups and 48 tackles in nine games this season.
in practice, and he’s always coaching them. … He’s letting them know which route is coming, and they get locked in.” Thomas said he feels responsible for guiding his younger teammates. He highlighted former Texas defensive backs Quandre Diggs, Adrian Phillips and Kenny Vaccaro as his past mentors. Now, he hopes to have that same influence on his teammates. “I know what it’s like to
be in the game as a young guy,” Thomas said. “Just to be out there, keep them confident, keep talking to them, keep them in their position, keep them poised … and just letting them play their game because they’re good players.” Freshmen aside, Texas’ defense depends on Thomas’ smarts and experience. He’s been a staple for the unit since he started 10 games as a sophomore. With several years behind him, he
SOFTBALL
has seen many facets of the game. That’s why junior safety Dylan Haines said he considers Thomas the defense’s go-to guy for questions. “Duke’s a guy who has been here four years — I think he knows more than anybody out there,” Haines said. “He’s a coach on the field, and that’s the best way to put it.” At most, Thomas has just four games left in burnt orange. While he’s already made his mark with his
leadership, he’s anxious to end his Longhorn career on a winning note. Texas needs to win two of its next three games to qualify for a bowl game. Thomas said he hopes to lead his team to that curtain call. “There’s definitely a sense of urgency,” Thomas said. “For myself, I only have three more games left as a senior. … It’s a one-game season, and I don’t want [to make] projections, but [I feel] that we can definitely get there.”
SOFTBALL
Washington makes waves in pro league By Riley Neuheardt @rileyneuheardt
Junyuan Tan | Daily Texan Staff
Senior second baseman Stephanie Ceo heads into the spring season as one of the leaders on a young Longhorn team.
Ceo prepared to lead Texas as senior captain By Bradley Maddox @MaddoxOnSports
With the bases loaded and no one out, senior Stephanie Ceo ran to the mound. Her teammate was struggling while facing St. Mary’s on Oct. 29, and she needed the calm voice of a captain. Junior Tiarra Davis had pitched herself into a jam and needed her nerves quelled. “I was in a bad spot and was worried it could get ugly in a hurry,” Davis said. “But Ceo came over and told me to make it simple — just throw strikes, it’s no big deal. It was exactly what I needed to hear.” Four batters later, Davis escaped with just one run on the board. She avoided a potential disaster, thanks to Ceo’s ability to keep things in perspective. “Maybe the thing I like best about Ceo is her ability to focus on the big picture,” head coach Connie Clark said. “She doesn’t get down after a misplayed
ball or a bad at-bat. She knows there’s an ultimate goal that’s greater than any one moment.” Ceo’s knack for taking one moment at a time propelled her to captain after just two years with the program. As she prepares for her final year with Texas, Ceo said she takes this fall slate as a teaching tool. “The fall is always such a fun time,” Ceo said. “You get to zero in on certain parts of your game. The coaches and I set some goals, and I feel like I’ve executed them this offseason.” Execution both on the field and off is important for a Texas team that features so many important players in their first year in Austin. Between transfers and freshmen, the Longhorns will field five newcomers in the spring season — something the Meadow Vista, California, native is very familiar with. “I want to do whatever I can for these new guys,” Ceo said. “I came from California and know the
feeling to be the new kid. I’ve enjoyed them coming up already and asking so many questions. To know they feel comfortable early on makes me feel like I’m doing something right.” Taking that extra step as both teammate and captain means signing an agreement to shoulder a greater load of responsibility. Ceo’s coaches say she meets the challenge. “She’s really more of a coach than a player,” Clark said. “When someone is having a problem, Ceo is the first one that goes and grabs them. She knows what it’s like to be a Division I athlete and can help those that are new at this.” As an on-the-field coach, Ceo often calms other nerves. She also leaves each newcomer with an important reminder. “I remind each of them of one thing,” Ceo said. “You aren’t in high school anymore. You’re playing softball at the highest level here at the University of Texas.”
Brejae Washington knew she wanted to be a Longhorn immediately after watching the team compete in the 2006 Women’s College World Series. She said she idolized Texas pitcher Cat Osterman’s tenacity and energy. Almost 10 years later, the two are teammates on the USSSA Florida Pride, one of five National Pro Fastpitch teams. “Watching how fired up she was on the mound got me pumped and feeling like I wanted to go to Texas,” Washington said. Washington arrived enamored with the Texas players that came before her, but she didn’t stay in their shadows while at UT. Washington still holds the Texas record for hits, triples and stolen bases. She started all four years in centerfield and left with a reputation as one of the fastest players to ever wear the Texas uniform. “I left my mark there, and that was something that I’m very honored to be able to do,” Washington said. “But I feel like it also helped me put myself on a pedestal but gave other girls something to strive for. That’s a record that I hope gets broken.” Her will to win didn’t end
when she graduated from Texas. Washington started the 2014 season with the USSSA Pride alongside two other former Longhorns, Osterman and catcher Megan Willis. She won a Diamond Spikes Award for her leagueleading 17 stolen bases. But Washington’s transition to professional softball wasn’t smooth. “It was a humbling experience because I went from being a starter at UT for four straight years to having to be a pitch runner,” Washington said. “I had to learn a new role, so that was different. But I’m on a team with Olympians. I’ll play my role wherever I fit.” At 11 years old with only five teams, National Pro Fastpitch is an infant in the world of pro sports. The league continues to grow, however, and will welcome its third new team in three years in 2016. Washington said she values the opportunity the league offers to showcase her talents. “I think my goals ultimately would be to just grow the league and make the most out of it and keep it as professional as possible,” Washington said. “Hopefully I can look back and say, ‘Hey, I was part of that team when it was low, and look at it now.’”
Daulton Venglar | Daily Texan file photo
Alumna Brejae Washington has taken the speed she was known for at Texas to make a name for herself in the NPF.
Hard fought team win! To God be the glory! #FlyEaglesFly
longhorns in the
Robison focused on catching QBs, fish
Minnesota Vikings defensive end Brian Robison has received recent attention both on and off the field. Robison has recorded 21 tackles this season, including one sack. He’s added pressure on the quarterback this season for 20 plays. Robison credits this added pressure to his “redefined path” to the quarterbacks, which shortens the distance he travels to the quarterback. Robison is a Longhorn alum from the 2005 National Championship team. He ranks 12th in school history in tackles for loss and tied the record for four blocked kicks in a single-season in 2003. He also won the Big 12 title in shot put in 2004 and ranks third among the farthest discus throws in UT history. Robison has also made a name off the field in yet another professional sport and charity. In college, Robison was a prominent track and field athlete in addition to playing football, but recently, he’s made a career in competitive fishing. After competing in the 2015 Bassmaster Classic, Robison continues to sharpen his fishing skills in hopes of eventually retiring his football career for a professional fishing career. This year, Robison announced he will be combining his passion for fishing and philanthropy to start his own nonprofit organization, The Reel ‘Em In Foundation. Starting in 2016, Robison will host two annual fishing tournaments in Minnesota and Texas to raise money for one designated charity per tournament. In 2016, the proceeds will go toward K9s4Cops, which provides dogs to law enforcement agencies, school districts and college campuses to help detect narcotics and weapons. Robison and his wife will continue to research other organizations to support in the future. The first tournament will take place at Lake Fork in Texas on April 9–10. —Leah Vann
COMICS 7
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DANIELLE LOPEZ, LIFE&ARTS EDITOR | @thedailytexan Tuesday, November 10, 2015
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ALUMNI
Gabriel Lopez | Daily Texan Staff
Jeremy Rosen, UT mechanical engineering alumnus, is the owner of Austin Bike Zoo. Rosen and his team of artists create a collection of animals and creatures built on top of bikes for the public to view and ride on. Some the zoo’s creatures include an eagle, butterfly and rattlesnake.
Alumnus circulates joy with bike circus By Brandi Davis @thedailytexan
UT alumnus Jeremy Rosen rides over the Mexican border atop an 80-foot, metal rattlesnake. The manmade creature is just one of many that make up the Austin Bike Zoo. The zoo is a collection of handmade animal creations built on top of bicycle and tricycle parts. Creators travel across the country bringing their assortment of large, interactive snakes, owls, butterflies, bats and eagles to various festivals and events, where visitors have a chance to ride the attractions. In 2012, Rosen decided to ride the rattlesnake somewhere it had never been before.
“We rode into Mexico, and then the Mexican consulate went with us,” Rosen said. “Everyone loved it, including the border patrol.” After studying mechanical engineering at UT, Rosen began adapting bicycle frames into pieces of art. He had spent some time working with bicycle designer George Bliss, who influenced him to begin making animal-like bike creations. Rosen then collaborated with a group of individuals who designed puppets for Austin’s First Night Parade in 2009 to form the group. “After that, I realized what we were doing was special, and there was a demand in the world for it,” Rosen said. “I love seeing how much joy
the bikes bring to the world. People who look at bikes can’t help but smile at them, and it’s as if they fulfill a [universally] held fantasy of flight.” Rosen and his team design the animals from scratch on top of pieces of pre-made bicycles and tricycles. The butterfly bikes are essentially built using two BMX bikes welded together with 15-feet long wings made from various types of fabric. Misty Wade, who works for Austin Bike Zoo, said assembling and designing bikes involves a large amount of teamwork. “Rosen will bring in various artists, and it’s a coming together of minds,” Wade said. “We use a lot of recycled material, and it’s
kind of like turning junk into art.” Austin Bike Zoo once had a public location in downtown Austin but now works on an event-booking basis, which Rosen said allows the staff to maintain the bikes and ensure they remain in good condition. The Bike Zoo, which brings up to 10 bikes to an event, will be at the upcoming Austin Alliance Holiday Stroll and Sing-Along on Dec. 5. “[Austin Bike Zoo] is important because it’s beautiful and inspires people,” Rosen said. “Sometimes, I give rides to people who haven’t ridden a bike in over a decade.” The zoo’s team rides in tandem so people who don’t know how to ride bikes and
I love seeing how much joy the bikes bring to the world. People who look at bikes can’t help but smile at them, and it’s as if they fulfill a [universally] held fantasy of flight. —Jeremy Rosen UT Alumnus
people with disabilities can also participate. Brooke Van Court, an employee at Austin Bike Zoo, said her favorite part of working at the Zoo is seeing people’s reactions to the bikes. “There was an elderly woman who asked me to take her for a ride on one of the butterflies, and her face lit up like she was a kid again,” Van Court said. “She was having fun, and it was so playful.” Wade, who helps assem-
ble and dissemble the bikes when they arrive at events, has recently begun helping with the artwork of the bikes. She said her favorite part of the job is working with kids and a strong staff. “I love the magical dynamic of how everyone works together,” Wade said. “It’s teamwork at its finest, and sometimes I can’t believe this is my job because I get to have so much fun and work with people who inspire me.”
CAMPUS
Check out more stories from our recurring series Tat-Tuesdays at dailytexanonline.com. By Cat Cardenas and Danielle Lopez @thedailytexan
Danielle Vabner After the 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, journalism senior Danielle Vabner transferred to UT, looking for a safe haven. Her six-year-old little brother, Noah Pozner, was the youngest victim of the tragedy. Just a week later, she chose to honor him with the rose and angel wing tattoo that marks her wrist. “It’s for my brother,” Vabner said. “My mom and I designed it together when we were at the tattoo parlor.” Vabner, who feels passionate about campus carry, said she plans to speak at today’s Gun-Free UT rally on the West Mall.
Photos by Joshua Guerra | Daily Texan Staff